Monthly Archives: January 2016

Faith Sandberg (Molly Aster), Steve Pacek (Boy/Peter), Nathaniel Stahlke (Prentiss) and Garrett T. Houston (Ted) in The Rep’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Just 12 actors play more than 100 characters onstage. Photo by Stephen B. Thornton.

We are in the middle of our run of Peter and the Starcatcher and to highlight some of the history and interesting trivia about the Peter Pan story, we thought it would be fun to share eight fun facts that you maybe didn’t know!

Here they are:

One of the reasons that adult women played the role of Peter Pan in the first half of the 20th century was to avoid British child labor laws that prevented child actors from working on stage after 9 pm.

Aerial effects company Flying by Foy earned its international reputation based on the flying effects it created for stage versions of Peter Pan, beginning in 1950.

In stage versions of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell is often created only by a spotlight and the sound of bells.

In Peter and the Starcatcher, 12 actors play more than 100 roles onstage.

Jungian psychologists refer to the “Peter Pan Syndrome,” in which an adult male’s mental maturity seems to be stalled in adolescence as Puer aeternus, which is Latin for “eternal boy.”

In the 1978 dark comedy ‘dentity Crisis by Christopher Durang, the character of Jane delivers a monologue about attending an absurd, accident-prone production of Peter Pan in which the actress playing Peter Pan accuses the children in the audience of not clapping hard enough and, therefore, killing Tinker Bell.

As Smee, Borle featured a tattoo on his left arm that is the Mandalorian crest from the Star Wars universe, which is the same symbol featured on bounty hunter Boba Fett’s armor in the Star Wars films.

Hugh Kennedy as Black Stache in The Rep’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Photo by Beth Hall.

It’s the Opening Week of our Tony Award-winning show, Peter and the Starcatcher– the fourth production in The Rep’s landmark 40th MainStage Season!

Now that we are in our third week of January (can you believe it?), we are excited to get this Peter Pan prelude started and give our patrons engaging activities, despite the looming winter weather slated for Thursday night.

Here is this week’s lineup of fun events:

Thursday, Jan. 21:

Preshow Director Talk, 6:15-6:45 p.m.: Get exclusive insight into our production of The Little Mermaid from Director Bob Hupp and the creative team before the start of the preview performances. FREE!

Friday, Jan. 22:

Clinton School Speaker Series, 12-1 p.m. Join Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp and members of the cast and creative team for a panel discussion on this musical. RSVP by calling the Clinton School at (501) 683-5239.FREE!

Opening Night performance and post-show party, 8 p.m.: Opening Night for Peter and the Starcatcher will include a post-show reception with the cast immediately following the show. Complimentary champagne and light hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

Sunday, Jan. 24:

Pay Your Age Night, 7 p.m.: Little Rock Soiree presents The Rep’s “Pay Your Age Night” on Sunday, Jan. 24. Are you age 22 – 40? Pay Your Age at The Rep! Top off your weekend with great theatre at a great price. Plus, enjoy a complimentary wine tasting provided by Colonial Wines and Spirits. Tickets are limited to four per household, Proof of age for each member of the party is required at time of pick-up.

Check out our full lineup of surround events during the show’s run from Jan. 22- Feb. 14 here and book your tickets by calling (501) 378-0405 or visiting TheRep.org.

With our production of Peter and the Starcatchertaking The Rep MainStage here in January, we have teamed up with Stone’s Throw Brewing to create a beer for the swashbuckling production.

And guess what? We need your help naming it!

Here is the scoop on the beer contest:

Beer Naming Contest

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 13, The Rep is following up with a Peter and the Starcatcher Beer Naming Contest, where we will be accepting entries for the brew– a “Dark Mild” English-style brown ale with light to medium roasted notes

2. Our top five favorite names will be selected and fans will be allowed to vote for their favorite on our Facebook page from 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18. The name with the most ‘Likes’ at the end of the voting period will be the winner!

3. The winner will receive a growler of the special flavor and a pair of tickets to see Peter and the Starcatcher!

The special brew will be on tap at Stone’s Throw Brewing, 402 E. 9th, Little Rock, and in Foster’s, located on the First Mezzanine at The Rep, during the run of the show, Jan. 20-Feb. 14, 2016.

Don’t miss your chance to try this one-of-a-kind beer celebrating this magical prelude to Pete Pan and get your tickets to Peter and the Starcatcher online or by calling the Box Office at (501) 378-0405.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre announced today the resignation of producing artistic director Robert Hupp. Hupp is currently in his seventeenth season as the leader of Arkansas’ largest non-profit theatre company. Hupp’s resignation is effective with the conclusion of his current contract which expires at the end of June 2016. At that time, Hupp will assume his new position as artistic director of Syracuse Stage in Syracuse, New York.

“It’s been an honor to steward The Rep for these past seventeen years,” Hupp said. “I am especially grateful to the kind and generous patrons of central Arkansas who make creating theatre here fun and rewarding. Little Rock has been a tremendous place to raise a family, and a wonderful place to call home. I’ve been extremely lucky to work with such a dedicated Board of Directors and a multi-talented Rep staff. Arkansas Rep’s future is very bright, and I look forward to being a fan for years to come.”

During his tenure in Little Rock, Hupp has overseen continued growth and development at The Rep. Since he assumed the producing artistic director’s position in 1999, the theatre has tripled its budget (currently at $4 million annually), increased contributed income by 100%, completed a successful capital campaign, and broadened the company’s artistic and economic base through co-productions with other nonprofit theatres and partnerships with institutions of higher education and community organizations. Under Hupp’s leadership, the theatre and actor housing apartments underwent a complete renovation in 2011. The Rep also renovated a new downtown scenic construction facility and recently opened The Annex, a black box theatre and education space, in Main Street’s Creative Corridor.

Hupp’s artistic stewardship at The Rep has been marked by seasons that reflect the great diversity of the theatrical canon. Shakespeare and American classics join new and contemporary works, and seasons always include musicals or plays with music. The current season contains the regional theatre premiere of The Bridges of Madison County, a new adaptation of The Little Mermaid, as well as a new comedy, Windfall, directed by Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander. The theatre also recently produced a new musical, Because of Winn Dixie, by Duncan Sheik and Nell Benjamin. Hupp has directed 28 productions while at The Rep, including The Grapes of Wrath, God’s Man in Texas, Les Miserables, August: Osage County, and all of The Rep’s recent Shakespearean productions.

In addition to his duties at The Rep, Hupp has shown a strong commitment to serving the central Arkansas community. He has served on numerous civic committees in Little Rock, including Little Rock’s Arts and Culture Commission, the Advisory Board of the ACANSA Arts Festival, and Vision Little Rock. He has collaborated with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Wildwood Park for the Arts, and the Arkansas Arts Center. He is the 2013 recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award (Individual Artist) and the 2014 Argenta Community Theatre (ACT) Patron of the Year Award. In 2012, he was named “Nonprofit Executive of the Year” at the Arkansas Business of the Year Awards, and also received the Arkansas Public Relations Society of Arkansas (PRSA) Diamond Award. Hupp has also been a panelist and on-site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts and has served in various capacities for the Theatre Communications Group, including a term as vice president of the Board of Directors. Hupp has taught and directed at several Arkansas colleges and universities, including Hendrix College, University of Central Arkansas, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he also served as the Interim Chair of the Department of Theatre in 2005.

The Rep Board of Directors expressed its gratitude to Hupp for his distinguished tenure.

“For nearly two decades, The Rep has been fortunate to have one of the country’s premier producing artistic directors at the helm,” Board President Catherine Hughes said. “While we celebrate Bob and wish him well in his new venture, we will sorely miss his energetic and intelligent leadership. He has played an integral part in the life of our community, and his departure will create a void which will be difficult to fill. On behalf of the Board and the community at large, I offer Bob our deepest gratitude for creating Broadway-quality theatre on our local stage.”

Hupp is only the second executive to lead The Rep in its 40-year history. Rep Founder Cliff Fanin Baker stepped down in 1999.

A search committee is being formed as The Rep’s Board of Directors launches an immediate national search for Hupp’s successor. Before departing, Hupp will plan The Rep’s 2016-17 Season.